Related Articles

Officers from police forces in Northumbria, Stafford and North Wales were drafted in to help out.

But critics accused police of not being prepared for the attacks amid claims authorities were caught off-guard by the worst violence for 30 years.

Garry Shewan, Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, said the rioters had “brought shame” on the city and said that arrests would be made.

ACC Shewan, who joined the force after moving to the city in 1981, called the scenes "senseless violence and senseless criminality on a scale I have never witnessed before".

He admitted the criminals had been “running wild” and embarked on “senseless criminality”. GMP has been faced with extraordinary levels of violence from groups of criminals intent on committing widespread disorder.

"These are pure and simple criminals running wild tonight," he said.

"They have nothing to protest against there has been no spark. This has been senseless violence and senseless criminality on a scale I have never witnessed before.

"Shops have been targeted, looted and set on fire and I, like everyone else, am absolutely appalled by the shameful actions of these criminals who have attacked our cities and have put Manchester and Salford in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons."

He added: "This is nothing more than senseless violence with absolutely no regard for people, their property or livelihoods.

"These criminals have also attacked some of my officers and other emergency services who are simply trying to do their job to keep the public safe and restore order."

"I would ask all members of the communities across Greater Manchester to think very carefully and seriously about who they support and who they want to bring to justice for those acts which have ripped the heart out of two great cities."

He said that offenders had been caught on CCTV and his message for them was "we will be coming for you".

Police arrested 47 people including one suspected looter who handed himself in after seeing himself on Facebook.

A spokesman for GMP said: “If you have been using social networking sites to incite disorder, expect us to come knocking on your door very soon.”

Throughout the night riot police played “cat and mouse” with the gangs who smashed their way into supermarkets and shops, including many upmarket retailers, in the heart of Manchester city centre.

The widespread attacks followed similar disturbances in neighbouring Salford, in which a former library was set on fire and shops attacked in the central precinct.

As rioters stormed shops, they set fire to a branch of fashion store Miss Selfridge in Manchester city centre as the youths embarked on running battles with police.

A jewellers was also reportedly attacked before plain-clothed police nearby ran in to arrest two looters from the shop.

Witnesses reported seeing children acting as “look outs” to help evade arrest, who would call out to gang members when police were nearby.

Other rioters, who set off fireworks, were seen talking to drivers of cars on mobile phones, exchanging information, while they drove around the streets in what appeared to be co-ordinated manoeuvres.

Police sealed off much of the city centre and used a " reverse kettling " strategy to clear the city centre by gradually pushing rioters away from the main shopping areas.

Trouble flared just after 5pm after a gang of 150 youths raced into the Arndale indoor shopping centre in a bid to break into the JB sports store.

Frightened retailers immediately started closing and boarding up their premises amid fears the violence could escalate.

One sign at a Subway in the centre read: “Due to imminent collapse of society we regret to announce we are closing at 6pm."

Gangs ran down Market Street smashing windows of shops and setting fire to the Miss Selfridge store while a Swarovski jewellers was attacked.

Other store windows were smashed with iron poles as more gangs poured into the city centre.

Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher's recently opened fashion boutique in King Street had fallen victim to the looters.

In Piccadilly Gardens, an amusement arcade was plundered and machines were overturned in Piccadilly Museums with coins strewn across the carpet.

Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, said last night that he witnessed up to 1000 youths, some of whom ransacked a closed restaurant.